Folk artisans of the Vitebsk region are preparing to take part in the festival «Alexandria Gathers Friends»

As reported by the Regional Methodological Center for Folk Art, one of the main features of Kupalye in the agro-town of Alexandria, Mogilev region, will be the "Festival of Folk Costume". Each region will prepare a thematic exposition – a Belarusian courtyard, designed for the presentation of regional costumes. The festival will begin with a parade-defile, in which twenty traditional costumes, restored in the Gorodok, Liozno, Senno, Beshenkovichi, and Orsha houses of crafts, will be presented from our region. The show will conclude with a demonstration of collections of reconstructed Belarusian costumes, clothing from the scientific and production republican unitary enterprise of Belarusian folk crafts "Skarbnitsa", the Orsha Flax Mill, and OJSC "Fashion Center".

– Our courtyard will host an exhibition-sale of folk crafts, and master classes will be held. The exposition will feature Belarusian attractions, life-size dolls, and animators will offer participation in games and contests. Folk ensemble of folk song "Vesyaluha", the ensemble of household dances "Kruzhali", and the game theater of the Beshenkovichi District Culture Center, as well as ensembles from Orsha, will perform with concert programs, – explained Olga Mults, leading methodologist of the RCMFA.

The pavilion will feature a display of traditional male and female costumes and accessories from the Vitebsk regions. This collection has been researched by the masters of the houses of crafts and described by leading methodologists of the RCMFA – Nina Bobrovich and Candidate of Art History Lyudmila Vakar.

Traditionally, the "Alexandria Fair" will be held as part of the festival, featuring decorative and applied arts from various regions of Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. In the City of Masters, workshops on chasing, knitting, patchwork, artistic carving, weaving, wood painting, and others will be opened. Master ceramist, director of the Beshenkovichi House of Crafts Alesya Ovchinnikova will share the secrets of her craft. Folk masters of the Republic of Belarus Maryna Gushcho and Vasily Simankovich will present openwork weaving, spiral weaving, and decorative straw products.

"Vitebskiye Vesti", photos from open sources.